FLOORBALL METHODOLOGY

Continuing with the basic series of articles we will take a look into Floorball Methodology. First the classification:

1. Individual Playing Skills (IPS)

1.1 Field Player Skills

Attacking

Defending

Ball dribbling

Covering of a player with a ball

Ball carrying

Covering of a player without a ball

Passing of an opponent/s with a ball

Covering of a player in a zone and defending of a zone

Ball receiving and passing

Shot blocking

Releasing of a player without a ball

Body contact

Shooting

Screening and rebounding

Face-off

IPS are skills that do not require teamwork and every player must master them regardless the cooperation with others. This is the basic skill set that every field player must learn to effectively and well execute more complex game situations. Learning these skills is the basis for kids training and the recommended order of learning is first train ball carrying and dribbling, then opponent passing (1 on 1 situations), then ball receiving and ball passing, then releasing of a player without a ball (create passing lanes for the ball carrier by moving to the free spaces away from the defenders and get open for a pass or a shot), then shooting, screening, rebounding and other special skills like face-off or penalty shot executing. Individual defending skills mainly focused on covering (player or zone) are crucial for later playing systems learning.

1.2 Goalkeeper Skills

Basic position and basic movement

Catching and blocking of shots

Decreasing of shooting angle

Power play and one on one situations

Skills during a play behind the goal cage and during high traffic in front of the goal cage

Ball throwing and Game opening

Special situation skills

Basic skill of goalkeeper is catching the ball. But for efficiently doing this he/she needs to know how to maintain basic posture and how to move, how to decrease the shooting angle, what to do when the ball is behind the cage, how to cooperate with players in power play situations (e.g. 4 vs 5 or 2 on 1 situation), special situations (hit-in, free-hit) and game openings and transitions (counter attacks).

2. Playing Combination (PC)

Attacking (based on):

Defending (based on):

Pass and Run

Securing (Covering)

Crossing (Drop-off ball)

Swapping of players

Screening

Doubling

Back pass

Back-checking

Long ball

Man-to-man defence

Face-off

Special game situations (hit-in, free hit)

PCs are situations where the cooperation of two or more players is required. They could be used for attacking – pass and run (two passes between two players where one is running), crossing (with or without dropping off ball – short back pass), screening (screening a player – setting a screen by blocking the movement of an opponent e.g. standing in front of him/her to free a teammate to run, pass or shoot; this is a different situation then screening the goalkeeper – setting a screen by standing in front of him/her to limit his/her view), back pass (passing the ball to player who is joining the situation in a second wave), long ball (long /often aerial/ pass to an attacking teammate), face-off (could be used to start surprising attack), special game situations like free-hit and hit-in. Or defending – securing is switching responsibilities when a player leaves his/her given position, swapping of players is used when the opponent is rotating or crossing (the defending players take responsibility of a different opponent). Doubling is situation where two defending players are trying to take away the ball from the ball carrier, back-checking is quick approach to players in defending zone in order to gain the ball or block a pass, man-to-man defence in PC is only partial man covering (e.g. only defenders are playing man-to-man defence).

3. Playing System (PS)

Attacking

Defending

Gradual game opening

Man-to-man defence

Quick game opening

Zone defence

Counter attack

Combined defence

Power play

Zone pressing

Shorthanded play

PSs need cooperation of all the players. They are schemes used to deal with complex situations and require good individual playing skills and mastered playing combinations. Attacking systems are used to offensive play as organized attacks. Gradual game opening is slower opening using more passes and rotation and crossing of players. Quick game opening is fast and simple using one or two longer and fast passes (e.g pass and run or long ball). Counter attack is using an error in opponent opening or attacking and is an immediate reaction to attacking play of the opponent. Power play is attacking play against opponent who is playing shorthanded. Defending systems are used to defensive play to prevent the opponent from scoring by steering the opponent to an area where the defending team is strongest and the opponent weakest and regain the possession of the ball. In man-to-man defence every player is covering one particular player of the opponent and has responsibility of him/her (good tight player covering is the essential part of man-to-man defence). In zone defence every player has responsibility of certain area of the rink (often using securing and swapping of players). Combined defence combines zone responsibility and man responsibility. Zone pressing is zone defence with increased effort of gaining the ball (back-checking and doubling is used). Shorthanded play is play against power play.

In forthcoming articles we will take a closer look at each skill, combination and system.